True Love Never Ends

TRUE LOVE

Never Ends

 

Celebrating our August 20^th wedding anniversary.

Our 49^th

 

  

As I requested, my husband maps out waterfalls

for us to see, as we drive the hour plus to

the next town over to have lunch.

 

 

Bruce buys the audio book I requested for our road trip.

I tried the get into the novel and couldn’t –

returning it to the library – twice.

Then someone said listen to it. That’s the way to go.

Theo of Golden was a self-published book

that is now a NYT best seller – we are trying it together.

 

Having made it through a number of chapters I have concluded

it’s interesting enough for our car time.

We go to and from another town every two weeks

for errands and supplies and it is a 70-minute drive one way.

I didn’t get much out of my husband other than laughter and

“You picked it out.”

 

We walk or hike depending on what is required

to get to the waterfalls.

 

 

Some waterfalls are easy to get reach.

Some periods in marriage are easy going.

 

 

My husband and I have been together since I was 17 and he was 20.

I love that we have grown up with each other.

We know each other as well as two growing human beings possibly can.

 

We dated for three years.

No topic was off the table.

We both wanted a successful marriage.

 

 

Some waterfalls were not easy to get to.

 

 

Sometimes after the struggle

we wonder if it was worth it.

 

 

Both of my knees are bone on bone. I am in pain at times.

Sometimes a lot of pain.

But to stop walking and hiking is not an option with how I want to live.

 

I do what is necessary to keep going. I have doctors.

I wear knee support, use arthritis cream and sometimes take pain meds.

I take care of my body. Selfcare is everything.

 

 

Sometimes marriage is hard.

Very hard.

Even painful.

But to quit our marriage is not an option for us.

 

We do what is necessary to keep going – happily.

 

 

Sometimes there’s unexpected help along the way.

 

We don’t resolve every conflict.

We learn to live with differences with grace.

 

Absolutely feelings and desire are an important part to a successful marriage.

Yet, passion and feelings come and go.

 

Lasting love – TRUE LOVE is a CHOICE.

 

We are together because we want to be.

We take care of our marriage because it is important to us.

 

 

 

Looking carefully can bring a perspective

that was unseen before.

 

It’s all about the journey.

 

We wonder out loud together

about the strangeness (quirkiness) of mushrooms.

 

 

We see signs of our favorite season coming.

 

 

 

We have lunch at the quirky place with uncomfortable chairs.

The name is The Vintage DRIFT.

 

 

 

 

While waiting for our lunch, we have fun looking at,

Laughing, remembering and talking about the retro items behind us.

 

 

We both choose the same quirky salad.

The blended flavors are amazing.

We hungrily attack it – our oatmeal having worn off

back there on a waterfall hike.

Uncharacteristically, we even eat the meat.

 

 

I long for a piece of dark chocolate, preferably with sea salt.

 

Fortified and rested, we walk around town.

My husband finds dark chocolate with sea salt

and another he thought I’d like.

 

 

I’m from New Orleans.

I grew up on hot and spicy food.

Yes please.

 

 

We listen to some more of the s-l-o-w paced novel.

I appreciate the theme of kindness…and God is subtly present.

We pray together throughout each day –

just like we walk the mountains together throughout each day

 

Kindness plays a vital role in all relationships especially marriage.

I’ve never understood why anyone would stop ‘dating’ their partner –

why stop doing sweet things the other likes –

 

 

He calls me to come see the pretty sky

 

 

Me: please stop at the fruit stand

They have the best peaches –

the ones from the grocery just aren’t very good

Him: are you sure I can’t hand pick you out some

from the grocery instead of making a special stop

 

Perfect fruit stand peaches:

 

 

that we both enjoy

 

 

We each are responsible for our personal happiness.

We have to have our own passions

that we are interested in and excited about in life.

 

The other person can’t be responsible for that

But we ADD to the happiness of each other

we are the rainbow sprinkles and cherry

 

a full life is

someone to love

something to do

something to look forward to

 

it’s not uncommon to be asked our secret to our long marriage

we cherish each other and our marriage

 

True Love is a CHOICE

 

Please share your thoughts here:

 

 

 

“Walks in nature are hugs for my soul.” Julie A R Stephens
julie@handsbestrong.com

Living in the Mountains

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